All together now, let’s pile on Ron DeSantis

The Florida man's time in the barrel arrived early. An analysis of the worst week of Ron DeSantis' political career and a plausible way out of the hailstorm.

If Ron DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign ultimately flames out from the chokehold of Donald J. Trump, chroniclers of political history will pinpoint April of 2023 as the month that incrementally suffocated Florida’s headstrong governor.

He was beaten before he was even out of the gate. He took too long to get in for a campaign that wouldn’t wait. He foolishly tarnished his OWN Trump card — electability — by embracing hard right social positions (the six-week abortion limit) and picking stupid fights with well-resourced potential business allies (Mouse, Mickey). He was too cocky of his political position, too dismissive of criticism and outside counsel, too insular on making the transition from statewide powerhouse to national aspirant and too neglectful of the essential powerbroker relationships that could’ve helped rescue him from political quicksand. His wife Casey, who has swiftly attained the reputation as his protective chief strategist, will be subject to stinging anonymous fulminations. There is always a spouse story — especially when things go awry.

And it all could’ve been avoided, damnit!

This is what will be written, because the seeds of this storyline have already been planted through an atrocious cycle of unforgiving and cascading media coverage that snowballed slowly before triggering an avalanche this week.

Writing a “DeSantis in Disarray” piece has almost become cliche (by April 22, 2023!) — so much so that the governor will undoubtedly receive an obligatory “comeback” storyline from the fickle mainstream media, wholly dependent on the twist and turn. (Look for it by mid-June through the end of July).

But for now, it’s DeSantis in the barrel, framed as an angry lonewolf, disdainful of the process and doubtful of even well-meaning allies. The mainstream media might be repelled by Trump’s actions, but they can’t resist documenting a precipitous fall from grace and popping an overinflated hype balloon.

Eagle-eyed subscribers will note